'Why we’re lighting the spark to get our city’s children reading’: Meet the duo sparking a reading revolution
In a quiet corner on Leeds, a powerful new story is being written one page a time.
And at the heart of it are two women sparking a reading revolution that goes beyond the pages of a book.
For Susan Pitter and Dawn Cameron it is more than just literacy - it is about creating a sense of identity enabling children across Leeds to see themselves reflected in the stories they read.
They have one mission. To help youngsters to recognise themselves in books to make sure they are more likely to fall in love with the imaginative world of reading and to never let go of that passion.
Susan and Dawn have worked closely together on a number of projects across Leeds over the years to champion and promote storytelling that is rooted in British black culture and the arts.
They set up Out of Many People, a Leeds-based non-profit company that curates and promotes Black arts, heritage and culture in Leeds and Yorkshire in 2024.
Earlier this year they launched the Likkle Lit Fest at Leeds Central Library. It was their first festival of Black literature for children and young adult readers, featuring writers and illustrators like Salomey Doku, Ashley Thorpe and Corinne Bailey Rae, who gave her first public reading of her debut picture book.
And now they are looking to the future to open the minds and imaginations of children across the city so they feel they are being represented in the books they read to inspire a generation of new readers.
Susan told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “It’s incredibly important to get not just black narratives and storylines out there but also for characters to be seen on a page.
“For children to see themselves in a book or storyline it becomes a true reflection of the world we live in that is diverse. It’s not monochrome.
“It’s incredibly important for children to see that writers look like them, that illustrators look like them and they can write and read about anything.
“They can see themselves in the writers and illustrators that are telling stories.
“If we are going to tell Leeds’ true story then it needs to include everyone’s stories and all communities. Without that it is not a true story of Leeds.”
After the success of Likkle Lit Fest the duo have worked with the Book Trust and Penguin Books UK's Lit in Colour to distribute over 1,000 books for children from babies to young adult readers through our community networks including Jamaica Society Leeds, RJC Dance and Hamara Healthy Living Centre.
They are also working closely with Leeds City Council to distribute over a 100 books to children in foster care across the city.
Their work comes at a time when the National Literacy Trust has said there is a national reading crisis with the decline in people picking up books.
They are backing the Yorkshire Evening Post’s Leeds Reads campaign to encourage more people across the city to spark their passion for reading.
Dawn said: “It’s a great concern. There are so many distractions now for children.
“We’re looking at reinvigorating the idea of reading for pleasure and ignite the love of parents reading with their children.
“The library doesn’t cost a thing at all - it’s not like going to the cinema or the theatre. All you need is a library card.
“Reading is such an incredible gift to give to a child and once that spark is ignited you don’t lose that.”
And at the heart of this are the spaces in our communities and libraries that can help families get the reading big for free.
Susan said: “This is about reconnecting people with a love of reading before they fully fall out of love with reading.
“Libraries are there for all of us.
“There is something about reconnecting people with libraries - it’s not just a place for books.
“They belong to us in all our communities and we need to take up our space.”
Dawn added: “Children live in localities that are mixed and diverse and it is important they see stories that feel and look like the neighbourhoods they live in.”